Pitching and Pitchers Discussion when should........

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Have to disagree with you on this one, Lenski. Most coaches (including college ones) call the game because they want to win, and will do whatever they need to do to improve those chances ... not because they want to brag about how well they called the game ... can't say I have ever heard a coach do that. Some coaches let their catchers do it if they think they can do a better job. I do agree with you that most unsuccessful pitches are due to location and not the pitch itself, which is why location is a key part of calling pitches.

We agree to disagree. It's a matter of chest-thumping and control IMO. Like I said in my prior post, coaches think they can call a better game, but chances are that's not necessarily true. I agree that location is key in calling pitches but the mistakes I am talking about are those pitches that do not hit their spots. It happens all the time, even at the collegiate level. You see a catcher set up outside, the pitch goes inside, the hitter misses it anyway, and the coach thinks he called the perfect pitch for the situation. I just think you're doing the catcher injustice by not letting them call the game. Like cgs pointed out, college coaches like catchers that call their own game.

Len

 

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In college, isn't the pitching coach calling the game? And if so, our catchers might as well get used to it in high school, right?

Not necessarily. In college, some catchers call the game, as well as the head coach, asst. coach, pitching coach, and hitting coach.

Len

 

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Thanks for the responses. I enjoy reading everyone's posts.

 

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AGHHHHH....teach those pitchers and catchers to work together to call their own games!!!!! There is NOTHING more frustrating than seeing catchers who aren't even given the chance to learn that VERY important aspect of catching. My girls are 12U and have been calling their own games for 2 years and I would put their pitch calling against just about any coach around. We did alot of practice with them, they made plenty of mistakes in the first year but they learned from them and now can call their own games with the utmost confidence. We are there to guide them on how to play their best on their own, not to try to play for them. The more control we hand over to them, the better players they will be.

 

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@Tbones Mom:

I addressed your point about college coaches calling pitches in my earlier post. Also, as flarays pointed out, some college coaches are requesting that catchers have the experience prior to coming to college of calling their own game.

It is not cast in stone....Dave Leffew (Coach at Ashland) told me that at Ashland University calling the game is the catcher's responsibility...

 

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This is a great subject to debate and obviously there are as many ideas on the topic as there are coaches. It doesn't seem to matter at what level of play, you'll see one or the other happening.

One point of interest I've noticed from those contributing to the topic is; almost all have mentioned they are at least teaching the catchers beyond the bucket. Like myself, some are letting catchers test the water at times while others choose to teach between innings or after a game. Even those saying no are still explaining to the battery why they are doing things a certain way. I believe it's being taught. It's up to the individual coaches to determine what is best for the team effort.